DP Silly Season

It’s that time of year again. While winter may be bringing a healthy helping of snow to Foxboro, it’s covering the rest of the world with a myriad of transfer rumors and this time New England isn’t being left in the cold.

New Year’s Day marks the opening of the midseason transfer window in most European leagues.  January 1^st also marks six months until many upcoming free agents’ contracts run out and thus starts the period when clubs can start negotiating pre-contract agreements. Unsurprisingly, late December and early January sees an explosion of player movement buzz throughout the media.

While the New England Revolution have often been untouched in the international dailies, 2010 is proving to be a different story. Possibly thanks in part to Chief Operating Officer Brian Bilello declaring the Revs intent to sign a Designated Player (a player making over $400,000 whose salary does not count fully against the cap), New England has been linked with aging stars from across the globe.

Already the Revs have been connected to former international stars from three continents in newspapers in three different languages. None of them, however, have seen any confirmation from any respected American journalists.

Topping the list of rumors is that of Fenerbahce’s Alex de Souza. The Brazilian playmaker, who currently leads the Turkish Super Lig with 12 goals this season, was reported to have attracted the interest of, and possibly even received an attractive offer from, the Revs in three different online Turkish publications. The former Brazilian national team captain and two-time Copa America winner has averaged nearly a goal or assist per game in his seven years in Turkey and was close to that amazing tally at every club/league he’s played at.

New England Soccer Today had suggested the 33-year-old Alex as a Designated Player signing for the Revolution a few days prior in our Revolution Christmas List. While it may just be a coincidence, there is certainly a possibility this rumor erupted from a mistranslation of that article.

The next major rumor came from Italy, in the form of Inter Milan center back Marco Materazzi. According to calciomercatonews.com the 37-year-old former Italian international is set to leave his current club and has attracted the interest of the Revs, along with Toronto and Los Angeles. While Materzzi may well be headed to MLS after several reliable sources have reported the story over the past six months, this was the first time he was linked specifically to the Revolution.

The final rumor of the past week came from South Africa. West Ham United striker Benni McCarthy’s agent Rob Moore has been pushing the former international to MLS clubs according to the South African Times Live. The 33-year-old, who missed out on South Africa’s 2010 World Cup squad reportedly due to fitness issues, has yet to score for West Ham this season. The Revs, along with D.C., Seattle, and Toronto were listed as potential buyers.

While it seems unlikely any of these rumors will come to fruition, just seeing the Revs mentioned in these types of stories is a change from past seasons.